System and method for enabling replay using a packetized link protocol

Abstract

A receiver, transmitter and method for enabling a replay using a packetized link protocol are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) transmitting a stream of packets including an untagged packet and (2) using synchronized counters to determine a sequence ID of the untagged packet, which is a corrupt/lost packet that needs to be retransmitted.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for enabling a replay using a packetized link protocol, comprising:
 transmitting a stream of packets including an untagged packet; 
 using counters to determine a sequence ID of said untagged packet; and 
 synchronizing said counters using a non-replayable initiation packet before said replay, said non-replayable initiation packet not being acknowledged using a sequence ID. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said counters include a first sequence ID counter at a transmitter with a second sequence ID counter at a receiver. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising synchronizing said counters when a data channel bearing said stream is idle. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising sending a first initiation packet that includes a sequence ID of a first packet of said stream. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising determining whether said untagged packet is lost by using a Cyclic Redundancy Check calculated against the sequence ID of said untagged packet. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising sending said non-replayable initiation packet that includes a sequence ID of a first packet in said replay. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a first packet of said stream is tagged. 
     
     
       8. A transmitter for enabling a replay using a packetized link protocol, comprising:
 a physical layer interface configured to transmit a stream of packets including an untagged packet; and 
 a transmitter sequence ID counter synchronized with a receiver sequence ID counter and configured to count a number of received packets in said stream, wherein said transmitter sequence ID counter and said receiver sequence ID counter are used to determine a sequence ID of said untagged packet, and said transmitter sequence ID counter is synchronized with said receiver sequence ID counter using a non-replayable initiation packet before said replay, said non-replayable initiation packet not being acknowledged using a sequence ID. 
 
     
     
       9. The transmitter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said transmitter sequence ID counter is synchronized with said receiver sequence ID counter when a data channel bearing said stream is idle. 
     
     
       10. The transmitter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said physical layer interface is further configured to send a first initiation packet that includes a sequence ID of a first packet of said stream. 
     
     
       11. The transmitter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said untagged packet is a corrupt/lost packet. 
     
     
       12. The transmitter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said physical layer interface is further configured to send said non-replayable initiation packet that includes a sequence ID of a first packet of said replay. 
     
     
       13. The transmitter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a first packet of said stream is tagged. 
     
     
       14. The transmitter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a first packet of said replay is tagged. 
     
     
       15. A receiver for enabling a replay using a packetized link protocol, comprising:
 a physical layer interface configured to receive a stream of packets including an untagged packet; and 
 a receiver sequence ID counter synchronized with a transmitter sequence ID counter and configured to count a number of received packets in said stream, wherein said receiver sequence ID counter and said transmitter sequence ID counter are used to determine a sequence ID of said untagged packet, and said receiver ID counter is synchronized with said transmitter sequence ID counter using a non-replayable initiation packet before said replay, said non-replayable initiation packet not being acknowledged using a sequence ID. 
 
     
     
       16. The receiver as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said receiver sequence ID counter is synchronized with said transmitter sequence ID counter when a data channel bearing said stream is idle. 
     
     
       17. The receiver as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said physical layer interface is further configured to receive a first initiation packet that includes a sequence ID of a first packet of said stream. 
     
     
       18. The receiver as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said physical layer interface is further configured to receive said non-replayable initiation packet that includes a sequence ID of a first packet of said replay. 
     
     
       19. The receiver as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a first packet of said stream is tagged. 
     
     
       20. The receiver as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a first packet of said replay is tagged.